In the same period in 2013, 116 women and their children approached the service for help. Only 36 were placed in ACT refuges.

As a result of federal cuts to funding through the National Affordable Housing Agreement, annual funding to the ACT for homelessness services was cut by $3.7 million in 2013-14 and a further $2.2 million in 2014-15, ACT Minister for Housing Andrew Barr said.

The territory government had been working to "absorb the impacts of the federal government changes" announced in 2013, he said.

"This has been a tough process and no-one likes having to reduce funding for such an important area but we have managed to work with the sector so that there is neither a loss of overall bed nights for homeless services nor is there a reduction in the number of providers," Mr Barr said.

The ACT government has committed to spend $3.3 million in domestic violence prevention programs this year, $2.04 million of which is specific funding for the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT.

Its staff accompany police and provide frontline crisis intervention as well as advocacy, referrals and a 24-hour domestic violence hotline.

The service works collaboratively with Beryl Women Inc refuge and Doris Women's refuge - the two places in the ACT that house women and their children escaping domestic and sexual violence.

"The responsibility for helping some of our most vulnerable citizens does not lie with one particular level of government or community organisation," a spokeswoman said.

"The Coalition government restored $115 million for homeless services across Australia in the next financial year. Capital funding is not provided in this one-year agreement, as capital is appropriate under long-term reform, not a one-year agreement."

The federal government was working in partnership toward a long-term funding arrangement for the sector, the spokeswoman said.

Ms Mar said it was unrealistic to expect a 30 per cent budget reduction wouldn't impinge on service delivery – the cuts meant something had to give.

"It had to come from somewhere," Ms Mar said. "We are a small service with a single funding stream. We had to make decisions about staffing to ensure we remained viable."

Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT executive director Mirjana Wilson was grateful her organisation had continued funding but said the sector was hampered if the services it relied on and referred clients to were inadequately resourced.

A recent spike in demand for domestic violence support had compounded the problem, she said.

In 2012-13 crisis service staff were called out to 1036 crisis interventions. The following year that figure jumped to 1408.

Calls to the service's 24-hour crisis line had risen from 13,959 to 15,647 in the same year.

"Demand has totally outstripped supply," she said. "Within the last six years the numbers have gone up by 45 per cent, which is substantial, and there has been no extra funding for that."

Now settled in independent accommodation Kate said she was relieved her long court battle was over and she would be reunited with her two sons left behind in Queensland.

"People don't realise how much help they need to keep their family safe from violence," she said.

She dreaded to think how many women would be denied the life-changing support she had received.

"It's just wrong," she said. "If you need help and there is no one there because of the cuts, what do you do?"

* Not her real name.

Get help by calling the 24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Service Line (02) 6280 0900. Canberrans at risk of homelessness can call First Point 1800 176 468 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).